Apparatus for cutting recesses in a timber



Dec. 20, 1966 K. v. JEPPESEN 3,292,577

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING RECESSES IN A TIMBER Original Filed Sept. 5. l9622 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y m/l/wrok A 19/5/74/1/ V/K/UF (AV/[5! W WW 20, 1966 K.v. JEPPESEN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING RECESSES IN A TIMBER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Original Filed Sept. 5 1962 $16 fi m United States Patent 3,292,677APPARATUS FOR CUTTING RECESSES IN A TIMBER Kristian Viktor Jeppesen,Gladsaxevej 36-44, Soborg, Denmark Original application Sept. 5, 1962,Ser. No. 221,526. Divided and this application Dec. 3, 1963, Ser. No.

8 Claims. or. 144-133 This invention relates to a method of joiningtimbers or planks meeting at right angles in a wall structure in whicheach wall comprises a plurality of timbers placed edgewise one atopanother and joined with each other by means of a key-and-grooveconnection, and in which the joints between the timbers of one wall-arevertically oifset relative to those of the adjoining wa'll, each timberhaving a recessed area circumscribing the timber to form a connectingportion which is adapted to be engaged in corresponding recesses of twoadjoining timbers of the adjoining wall. This application is a divisionof my copending application Serial Number 221,526, filed September 5,1962, now abandoned.

In the past, the recesses have been so made as to form a connectingportion of substantially rectangular crosssection presenting an upperand a lower horizontal face. This method presents the drawback that theconnection between timbers is not sealed because as a practical matterthere has to be a clearance at least between the upper and lower faces,respectively, of one connecting portion and the abutting faces of theconnecting portions of the timbers of the adjacent wall. This drawbackresults in a connection which is insufficiently rigid and usuallynecessitates the use of corner posts in such wall structures.

The present invention aims to remedy this drawback by having the upperside of the connecting portion ridged with two inclined surfacesterminating in a rounded edge extending longitudinally of the timber,together with a recess in the lower side of the connecting portionadapted to cooperate with the upper ridge of the connecting portion ofthe next lower adjoining timber of the adjoining wall. This provides acompletely tight joint and makes the wall structure so rigid as torender corner posts completely superfluous.

In order to further increase the rigidity of the wall structure and toobtain a satisfactory appearance of the connections, the lateral or siderecesses may, in accordance with the invention, be formed with an upperand a lower portion, each terminating in rounded ends meeting at thehorizontal longitudinal central plane of the timber and having a radiusequal to or slightly less than half the lateral thickness of the timber.

The invention also provides an apparatus for producing such a recessedtimber. The apparatus comprises a frame, means on the frame for clampingand positioning the timber, a slide mounted on the frame for verticalmovement and carrying a rotary cutter adapted to effect an obliquelyupwardly and forwardly directed movement and subsequently an obliquelydownwardly and forwardly directed movement to form the upper region ofthe recessed area whereby the upper side of the connecting portion isridged and a rotary cutter mounted on the frame adapted to form thelower region of the recessed area whereby the lower side of theconnecting portion is recessed during vertical movement of the slide.

This construction provides an eflicient apparatus which will make allrecesses in one operation.

In order to obtain the correct movement of the cutter for cutting theupper region of the recessed area this cutter may be mounted at the endsof a table projecting forwardly from the slide, two pairs of arms beingmounted for swinging movement at the rear end of the table and beingpivotally connected with a supporting member secured to the slide, insuch manner that the pairs of arms in the inoperative position of thetable extend upwardly and rearwardly, and one pair of arms is providedwith a substantially laterally projecting arm connected with hydraulicmeans, and a coil spring has one end connected with the supportingmember and its opposite end with the table.

In order to enable the opposed cutters to be easily moved away from andtowards each other during vertical movement of the slide, for cuttingthe upper and lower, lateral recesses of the timber, these cutters may,in accordance with the invention, each be mounted in pivotal armsmounted on a bracket projecting from the slide and connected with eachother by means of a spring which acts to urge the arms away from eachother, means being provided for urging the arms towards each otheragainst the spring action at certain intervals.

One example embodiment of the invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of part of a timber according to the invention,showing the recesses and connecting portion;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view along the line IIII in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front view of an apparatus embodying the invention; and

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the same apparatus without the frame.

FIGURES l and 2 illustrate a timber 1, all four sides of which areprovided with recesses to form a connecting portion 2. The upper side ofconnecting portion 2 is rounded with its crown extending longitudinallyof the timber. FIGURE 2 shows the upper side of connecting portion 2ridged to provide inclined surfaces 3 and 4 terminating in a roundededge 5. The lower side of the plank 1 is provided with a correspondingrecessed region extending transversely of the timber and having a pairof inclined surfaces 6 and 7 which meet at a rounded corner 8. Whenconnecting two walls extending at right angles to each other, eachtimber will be supported with the surfaces 6 and 7 of the lower recessupon the upper inclined surfaces 3 and 4 of the upper recess of the nextlower adjoining timber in the adjoining wall.

These recesses in the plank may be made automatically by means of theapparatus illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4.

The apparatus comprises a frame 9 supporting a table 10 having apositioning rail 11, against which the timber 1 to be cut, is secured.Frame 9 is at either side provided with vertical guiding rods 12 forslidably receiving slidable bearings 13 secured to a slide 14 which isthus vertically slidable along the rods 12.

A rearwardly extending supporting member 15 is secured to the slide 14and carries two pairs of pivotal arms 16 and 17, the upper ends of whichare pivotally connected with a table 18. An electric motor 19 issupported upon the table 18 for driving a rotary cutter 21 mounted atthe forward end of the table 18 which projects from the front side ofthe slide 14. The driving connection comprises a belt 20. The pair ofarms 17 are formed as hell crank levers and have integral with themanother pair of arms 22 which are pivotally connected with a piston rod24 of a piston mounted for sliding movement in a cylinder 23. A spiralspring 25 has its inner end connected with the rearward end of table 18and its outer end connected with the supporting member 15 in such amanner as to be under tension in the rearmost, inoperative position ofthe table 18, as shown in FIGURE 3 4. The cutter 21 is adapted to cutthe upper region of the recessed area, including the surfaces 3 and 4.

For cutting the lower region of the recessed area comprising theinclined faces 6 and 7 there is provided another rotary cutter 26 whichis mounted on an arm 27 secured to the slide 14, the axis of the cutterbeing situated vertically below the longitudinal central plane of thetimber 1 clamped in the machine. The arm 27 further extends somewhatrearwardly of the slide 14 and carries an electric motor 28 for drivingthe cutter 26.

As previously mentioned, the lateral recessed regions of the timber 1are suitably so formed as to comprise on either side of the timber alower, lateral recessed portion 29 having a rounded upper end 30 with aradius. equal to or slightly less than half the lateral thickness of thetimber, and an upper, lateral recessed portion 31 having a rounded lowerend 32 with a radius equal to half of slightly less than half thelateral thickness of the plank as seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, the saidrounded ends meeting each other at the longitudinal central plane of thetimber. The lateral recesses are cut by means of a pair of opposed,rotary cutters'33 and 34, each mounted on a vertical arm 35 and 36,respectively. The arms 35 and 36 are pivotally mounted on a bracket 37projecting from the slide 14 so as to be capable of swinging movementtowards and away from each other. A curved spring 38 is secured to thearms 35 and 36 and acts to urge them away from each other. Each arm 35,36 is provided with a laterally projecting arm 39 and 40, respectively,which are connected with each other by means of a lever system whichcontrols the movements of the arms 35 and 36 relative to each other insuch a manner that both arms are simultaneously pivoted towards or awayfrom each other. This lever system may comprise a short two-armed lever41 pivotally mounted at its middle point on an upright 42 on the bracket37 and having its ends pivotally connected with the lateral arm 39 ofthe arm 35 and with one end of a connecting rod 43, respectively, theopposite end of which is connected with the lateral arm 40 of the arm36. The arm 40 is, furthermore, pivotally connected with one arm of atwo-armed lever 44 pivotally mounted in the bracket 37 and provided witha roller 45 at its other arm which is adapted to cooperate with an uppercam member46 .and a lower cam member 47 secured in frame 9. An

upright 48 extends upwardly from the bracket 37 and carries a pivotal,two-armed lever one arm 49 of which is provided with a roller 50 adaptedto cooperate with a cam 51 secured on the frame 9, and the other arm 52of which is adapted to engage a projection 53 on the arm 35 so as tohold the arms 35 and 36 in their closest relative position.

The timber 1 is clamped to the table against the guiding rail 11 bymeans of a bell crank lever mounted on the table 10 and carrying on onearm 54 a clamping shoe 55, whereas its other arm 56 is pivotallyconnected with a piston rod 57 of a hydraulic cylinder 58.

The operation of the machine described is as follows:

A timber 1 is placed on the table 10 against the positionin-g rail 11.The operator pulls a starting lever 59 to start the machinery, and oilis supplied from an oil pump (not shown) to the cylinder 58-, wherebythe clamping shoe 55 is pressed against the timber 1 to hold the samefirmly.

In its inoperative position, the slide 14 is in an intermediate positionin which the cutter 21 is on a somewhat higher level than the timber 1and the piston of the cylinder 23 is not in its lowermost position. Whenthe operating lever 59 is pulled, the oil under the piston in thecylinder 23 is first allowed to escape, whereby the piston rod 24 iscaused to move downwardly and the slide 14 including all parts mountedthereon is lowered until the frame abuts against a lower stop. In thisposition of the slide, the piston rod 24 has not yet attained itslowermost position. Therefore, the spiral spring 25 erating the cutterto efiect an obliquely upwardly and.

will act upon the table 18 in such a manner that, due

to the presence of the levers 16 and 17, the cutter 21" will moveupwardly and forwardly in an inclined path, until the levers 16 and 17are in vertical position, and subsequently move obliquely forward anddownward. By this movement the cutter 21 cuts the upper recessed regionof the timber 1. Subsequently, pressure oil is supplied to the cylinder23 so as to lift the piston rod 24, whereby the table 18 is moved backto its initial position and the slide 14 is lifted.

During the aforesaid downward movement of the slide, the roller engagesthe lower cam 47 so as to cause the levers 35 and 36 to move towardseach other,

thereby permitting the arm 52 to engage the projection 53 of the lever35. 'When the slide 14 has attaineda certain level, the opposed cutters33 and 34 will effect cutting of the lower, lateral recesses 29, 30.When these recesses have been completed, the roller has attained suchlevel as to engage the cam 51, whereby the arm 52 is disengaged from theprojection 53 of the lever 35 so that the levers 35 and 36 and thecutters 33 and 34 are permitted to move away from each other under theaction of the spring 38 while the cutters are lifted past the pointwhere the upper and the lower lateral recesses meet each other. armedlever 44 then engages the upper cam member 46 so that the cutters 33 and34 are again moved towards The roller 45 of the twoeach other and thelever 52 again engages the projection 53. Now the upper lateral recess31, 32 is cut during further upward movement of the slide 14. Thismove-.

ment also causes the cutter 26 to cut the lower recessed region in theplank 1. Finally, the slide 14 abuts against an upper stop, whereby theoil is allowed to escape from the cylinder 23, until the slide 14 hasattained the position indicated in FIGURE 4. At the same time oil isallowed to escape from the cylinder 38 so that the clamp-' ing shoe isremoved from the timber 1 to enable the latter to be removed ordisplaced.

In order to allow for adjustment of the aforesaid upper and lower stopsfor the slide 14, the lattermay be for-med with an upper recess 60 whichis engaged by a pair of pins 61 and 62, each mounted on a two-armedlever 63 and 64, respectively, mounted pivotally in frame 9 forcooperation with screw spindles 65 and 66 engaging screw nuts 67 inframe 9 and provided with hand wheels.

while the other lever acts as upper stop when the lower edge 69 of therecess 60 abuts against pin 62.

The apparatus described may be modified in various respects within thescope of the appended claims. Thus,

ing portion of reduced cross-section to permit interlock-- ing use ofseveral of the timbers to form wall sections comprising, a frame, meanson the frame for clamping and positioning the timber, a slide mounted onthe frame for vertical movement thereupon from an inoperative restposition and carrying a first rotary cutter, means for opdownwardlydirected movement and subsequently an obliquely downwardly and forwardlydirected movement during downward vertical positioning of the slide toform the upper region of the recessed area and to define downwardlysloping upper walls of the connecting portion whose planar surfaces lielongitudiinaly of the timber, a

second rotary cutter mounted on the frame below the first rotary cutter,means for operating the first rotary cutter to form the lower region ofthe recessed area and to dethe connecting portion whose planar surfacesare transverse to the longitudinal length of the timber, the lower Onelever 63 acts as a lower stop, when the upper edge 68 of the recess 60abuts against pin 61,

region of the recessed area being formed during upward verticalpositioning of the slide, a pair of horizontal, axially opposed rotarycutters mounted on the frame, means causing the'axially opposed rotarycutters to cut a pair of lower lateral recesses in the timber duringvertical downward movement of the slide, means for moving the axiallyopposed rotary cutters apart and subsequently towards each other forcutting a pair of upper lateral recesses in the timber, the first cutterfor forming the upper region of the recessed area further being mountedat the end of a table projecting downwardly from the slide, the tablehaving an operative posiiton and an inoperative position, two pairs ofarms being mounted for swinging movement at the rear end of the tableand being pivotally connected with a supporting member secured to theslide in such a manner that the pairs of arms in the in operativeposition of the table extend upwardly and rearwardly, one pair of saidarms being provided with a substantially laterally projecting armconnected with a vertically operating hydraulic means, and a spiralspring having one end connected with the supporting member and the otherend connected with the table, whereby upon downward movement of thehydraulic means and the slide is moved downward and the spring causesthe table to rotatably move about the pairs of arms to position thefirst cutter in operative relation with the timber.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein opposed rotary cutters areeach mounted in pivotal arms mounted on a bracket projecting from theslide, the pivotal arms being connected with each other by a springacting to urge the arms away from each other.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein one of the pivotal armscarrying the opposed rotary cutters is pivotally connected with one endof a two-armed lever pivotally mounted in the bracket the other end ofsaid two-armed lever being pivotally connected with a connecting rodwhich connecting rod is in turn connected with the other of said pivotalarms carrying the opposed rotary cutters, said other pivotal arm beingalso pivotally connected with one arm of a second two-armed levermounted on the bracket said second two-armed lever being provided on itsother arm with a roller adapted to cooperate with a cam associated withthe frame.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein a bell crank lever ispivotally mounted on an upright on the bracket, one end of said leverbeing adapted to engage a projection on one of the pivotal arms carryingthe opposed rotary cutters for holding said pivotal arms in theirclosest position one with another the other arm of the bell crank levercarrying a roller adapted to cooperate with cam means on the frame fordisengaging the bell crank lever from said projection.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the cutter for forming thelower region of the recessed area is rotatably mounted on an arm securedto the slide, in such a manner that its axis is situated below the levelof the opposed rotary cutters in the center plane of the timber whenclamped.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the inoperative positionof the slide is such that the cutter for forming the upper regionrecessed area is situated at about the level of the timber when clamped,and including a hydraulic piston suitably spaced from the bottom of itscylinder for vertically displacing the slide.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means operable by anoperative lever for supplying a hydraulic medium to a cylinder havingits piston operatively connected with the timber clamping means and forallowing the hydraulic medium to escape from the cylinder operating theslide to cause the slide to be lowered to engage a lower stop, forsubsequently supplying a hydraulic medium to said cylinder to lift theslide to engage an upper stop, and for finally allowing hydraulic mediumto escape from the cylinder for lowering the slide to the inoperativeposition thereof and from the cylinder operating the clamping means forthe timber.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the slide has an upperrecess engaged by a pair of pins, each of the pins being secured topivotal levers mounted on the frame, one of said pins being adapted toengage the upper edge of the recess to constitute a lower stop and theother of said pins being adapted to engage the lower edge of the recessto constitute an upper stop, the pivotal levers being each pivotallyconnected with a screw spindle cooperating with a nut mounted in theframe.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,813,293 7/1931Hrncsjar l44133 2,347,374 4/1944 Stahler l44198 2,366,831 1/1945Cartledge 144137 2,588,814 3/1952 Erland et al 20-4 X 2,602,476 7/1952Tilbets 144-l34 3,010,495 11/1961 Ipsen 144136 DONALD R. SCHRAN, PrimaryExaminer.

1. AN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CIRCUMSCRIBING UPPER AND LOWER RECESSEDAREAS IN A TIMBER OF DEFINE A CONNECTING PORTION OF REDUCEDCROSS-SECTION TO PERMIT INTERLOCKING USE OF SEVERAL OF THE TIMBERS TOFORM WALL SECTIONS COMPRISING, A FRAME, MEANS ON THE FRAME FOR CLAMPINGAND POSITIONING THE TIMBER, A SLIDE MOUNTED ON THE FRAME FOR VERTICALMOVEMENT THEREUPON FROM AN INOPERATIVE REST POSITION AND CARRYING AFIRST ROTARY CUTTER, MEANS FOR OPERATING THE CUTTER TO EFFECT ANOBLIQUELY UPWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED MOVEMENT AND SUBSEQUENTLY ANOBLIQUELY DOWNWARDLY AND FORWARDLY DIRECTED MOVEMENT DURING DOWNWARDVERTICAL POSITIONING OF THE SLIDE TO FORM THE UPPER REGION OF THERECESSED AREA AND TO DEFINE DOWNWARDLY SLOPING UPPER WALLS OF THECONNECTING PORTION WHOSE PLANAR SURFACES LIE LONGITUDINALY OF THETIMBER, A SECOND ROTARY CUTTER MOUNTED ON THE FRAME BELOW THE FIRSTROTARY CUTTER, MEANS FOR OPERATING THE FIRST ROTARY CUTTER TO FORM THELOWER REGION OF THE RECESSED AREA AND TO DEFINE DOWNWARDLY SLOPING UPPERWALLS IN THE LOWER AREA OF THE CONNECTING PORTION WHOSE PLANAR SURFACESARE TRANSVERSE TO THE LONGITUDINAL LENGTH OF THE TIMBER, THE LOWERREGION OF THE RECESSED AREA BEING FORMED DURING UPWARD VERTICALPOSITIONING OF THE SLIDE, A PAIR OF HORIZONTAL, AXIALLY OPPOSED ROTARYCUTTERS MOUNTED ON THE FRAME, MEANS CAUSING THE AXIALLY OPPOSED ROTARYCUTTERS TO CUT A PAIR OF LOWER LATERAL RECESSES IN THE TIMBER DURINGVERTICAL DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE SLIDE, MEANS FOR MOVING THE AXIALLYOPPOSED ROTATY CUTTERS APART AND SUBSQUENTLY TOWARDS EACH OTHER FORCUTTING A PAIR OF UPPER LATERAL RECESSES IN THE TIMBER, THE FIRST CUTTERFOR FORMING THE UPPER REGION OF THE RECESSED AREA FURTHER BEING MOUNTEDAT THE END OF A TABLE PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE SLIDE, THE TABLEHAVING AN OPERATIVE POSITION AND AN INOPERATIVE POSITION, TWO PAIRS OFARMS BEING MOUNTED FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT AT THE REAR END OF THE TABLEAND BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED WITH A SUPPORTING MEMBER SECURED TO THESLIDE IN SUCH A MANNER THAT THE PAIRS OF ARM IN THE INOPERATIVE POSITIONOF THE TABLE EXTEND UPWARDLY AND REARWARDLY ONE PAIR OF SAID ARMS BEINGPROVIDED WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY LATERALLY PROJECTING ARM CONNECTED WITH AVERTICALLY OPERATING HYDRAULIC MEANS, AND A SPIRAL SPRING HAVING ONE ENDCONNECTED WITH THE TABLE, WHEREBY UPON THE OTHER END CONNECTED WITH THETABLE, WHEREBY UPON DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE HYDRAULIC MEANS AND THESLIDE IS MOVED DOWNWARD AND THE SPRING CAUSES THE TABLE TO ROTATABLYMOVE ABOUT THE PAIRS OF ARMS TO POSITION THE FIRST CUTTER IN OPERATIVERELATION WITH THE TIMBER.